This majestic bald eagle stands proudly over his dinner in front of Jeff Stave’s home in Brainerd, Minn.  This exciting cookout at a restaurant was a part of a fall colors tour through Michigan, taken by Michael Sanoski of Cushing, Minn. The fall time is harvest time! This combine is hard at work collecting stalks of corn in Big Stone, sent in by Jim Foster. Autumn leaves on this maple tree are in full flush this year, sent in by Sue Taylor from Hitterdahl, Minn. There’s noth

By Carrie Classon (Written in late September) It is the time of year for vegetable gluttony. The truth is, I am a vegetable glutton all year round. I blame my mother. My mom grew up on a farm, and when my sister and I were growing up, my mother was one of the first moms in our suburb to plant a big vegetable garden. We had beans and tomatoes and zucchini, and I don’t remember what else. I loved vegetables from a very early age. My mother would serve whatever we were eating in

Renville man awarded Air Medal, Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart for service in Vietnam By Patricia Buschette  Leonard O. DeGree of Renville prepared for combat in Vietnam. Contributed photo In 1964, much of the news of the world focused on Vietnam because of attacks on U.S. Naval vessels by North Vietnamese forces. Known as The Gulf of Tonkin incident, it escalated U.S. military involvement. Leonard DeGree was a 1960 graduate of Renville High School who still lives in

‘Being outdoors doing what I love keeps me feeling young’ By Maggie Gray John Pennoyer of Maple Grove stands ready with his camera and zoom lens, ready to capture the perfect wildlife image. Contributed photo The lake is very still, veiled in an early morning mist, every sound magnified in the pristine quiet. Then it comes—that tremolo call, eerie and beautiful, the haunting call of the Minnesota Common Loon breaking the silence. John Pennoyer of Maple Grove waits, breath hel

Brainerd couple served for decades in Nat’l Guards By Bill Vossler Having two members of one family in the National Guard at the same time can present problems, said Kristin Rajala of Brainerd. “No children, so that wasn’t a complication. But for 20 years we gave up 25 percent of our weekend free time. And when Army business comes up outside of drill time, as an officer you need to respond,” she said. Jerry Steinke and Kris Rajala are waiting for their flight overseas into, r

Florence man served 27 years as military chaplain By Gary Kass United States Marine Corps Private Charles Anderson of Renville on the day he earned the promotion to Sergeant in 1972. Contributed photo Charles James Anderson was born in 1951 in Tyler, Minn., just seven miles from his family farm near Florence. His parents were farmers and he grew up as a typical farm kid... hard work was expected. “You start with little chores,” he said, “helping Mom with the chickens... then

Long Prairie man remembers early days of SWCD By Tim King Meryl and Linda Wegner of rural Long Prairie. In the back ground is the shade garden with wild flowers that Linda designed. Meryl, who planted more than 1,000 trees in his lifetime, was the first paid employee of the newly established Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) 60 years ago. Photo by Colin King. If Meryl Wegner of Long Prairie, now in his early 80s, were to buy a place in the country today the first thin

Garfield man served in both WWII, Korean War  By Julie Parent Jim Clermont served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 and from 1950 to 1951. Photo contributed  Decorated veteran Jim Clermont of Garfield, Minn., does not know why he has lived for 100 years or why he became an important part of American history. It’s “just one of those things,” he said. Jim was born on April 2, 1925. “My mother held off so I wouldn’t be born on April 1, which is April Fool’s Day,” he said. Jim,

Alexandria man served on USS Midway, discovers his photo at museum By Julie Parent A photo of Don Van Guilder when he was a Navy sailor is posted at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, CA. Photo contributed by Liz Winter Don Van Guilder of Alexandria, Minn. was watching a YouTube video about the USS Midway Museum when he saw one of two photos of himself on the bulkhead wall in the background. He was so shocked, he took a picture of the computer screen and showed it to his f